Motorcycle Safety

Making Safety a Priority

With little to protect them in collisions involving passenger vehicles
or trucks, motorcycle riders are among the most vulnerable motorists on
public roadways. As such, it becomes important that both riders and drivers
of motor vehicles to do their part in making safety a priority. After
all, negligence, inattention, and traffic violations can lead to devastating
outcomes when a motorcycle rider is involved.

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor is led by Founding Partner Jason E.
Taylor, a lifetime motorcycle enthusiast who is passionate about protecting
the rights of riders injured in preventable
motorcycle accidents. In addition to helping riders and their families navigate the legal process
toward the financial compensation they deserve, he is also actively involved
in the motorcycle community and in efforts that make roadways safer for
all riders.

If our North and South Carolina motorcycle accident attorneys can help
you further, contact us at our offices in Hickory, Charlotte, and Columbia.
You can schedule an appointment at (800) 351-3008.

Tips for Riders

When it comes to riding a motorcycle, riders know that it often becomes
their responsibility to look out for their own safety. This is because
they are routinely overlooked by drivers of passenger vehicles. If you
or someone you love is a rider, there are few basic things you should
be doing any time you are on your bike:

Vigilance – Being vigilant is one of the most important things a rider can
do. This means making the operation of their motorcycle their only task
and priority. In order to be able to be on the lookout for potential risks,
including signs of drivers making turns or changing lanes, riders need
to be free from any potential distractions, including cell phone use and
listening to music. They also need to ensure that they drive defensively
and only make moves after fully scanning their surroundings and being
aware of where other motor vehicles are, and could potentially be.

Visibility – Being visible is critical to rider safety, as it can help reduce
risks of accidents in which drivers of motor vehicles fail to see riders.
To increase visibility, riders can keep their headlights on and wear bright
or reflective clothing, especially at night. Avoiding blind spots is also
important when making sure other drivers are able to see a nearby motorcyclist.
Additionally, riders should make eye contact with drivers to ensure that
they are seen prior to making turns, entering intersections, or engaging
in acts that place them in front of or nearby vehicles.

Obey traffic laws – Motorcyclists are considered motor vehicles by law, which means
they have all the same rights and responsibilities as drivers. Obeying
traffic laws is part of this. Not only does this ensure you safely share
the road with others, it can also protect you against preventable accidents,
as speeding, unsafe lane changes, and other violations can prove dangerous
when vehicles are nearby.

Wear a helmet – Statistics have shown that wearing a DOT-approved safety helmet
can save lives and reduce risks of serious injuries, including brain injuries.
In fact, researchers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) have found that helmets decreased the risk of death by nearly
40%, and the risk of head injuries by nearly 70%.

Ride sober – Crash data reports that drug and alcohol impairment plays a role
in many preventable motorcycle wrecks. Just as any rider would expect
motorists to drive sober, they too should obey the law and never ride
under the influence. Riding impaired is a negligent act that puts riders
and others around them at risk of suffering harm.

Tips for Motorists

Drivers of motor vehicles also have a responsibility to operate their vehicles
safely, especially when around motorcycle riders. Here are a few ways
motorists can safely share the road:

Avoid distractions – A large percentage of motorcycle wrecks involve drivers who never
saw riders. While inattention alone can cause a motorist to miss a nearby
rider prior to making a move, distraction plays a significant role in
limiting their ability to see what’s around them. When behind the
wheel, drivers should make the task of driving their only task. This means
avoiding distractions such as cell phone use, texting, eating or drinking,
adjusting music, reading, or talking to passengers – all of which
can take a motorist’s manual, mental, and visual attention off the road.

Look for riders – Drivers without distractions can still miss nearby riders when
they fail to scan their surroundings, especially prior to changing lanes,
making turns, or entering intersections. Before you make any move behind
the wheel, make sure the coast is clear by checking all mirrors, turning
your head to check blind spots, and signaling your intent. Check twice
for riders.

Share the road – Motorcyclists are motor vehicles with the same right to the road.
As a motorist, you should share the road with riders by providing them
with enough following distance and space when passing, and the same rights
as you would give any motorist.

Negligence & Preventable Accidents

Even when motorcyclists do all they can to make safety their top priority,
they can still fall victim to preventable wrecks caused by the negligence
of others. When they do, our civil justice system provides injured riders
with the right to pursue legal action that will hold motorists accountable
for their negligence and liable for the serious injuries and damages they cause.

Our legal team at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor helps injured victims
and families protect their rights following preventable wrecks caused
by negligence. By leveraging our decades of experience in personal injury
law, we effectively advocate for clients in even the most difficult cases,
and fight for the compensation they rightfully deserve.

Discuss Your Case During a FREE Consultation

If you wish to discuss a potential case involving a motorcycle accident
anywhere in North Caroline or South Carolina, our firm is readily available
to help. We can explain your rights, whether you have a valid case, and
what we can do to fight on your behalf.
Contact us 24/7 for a FREE consultation.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

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